Dang, this is bleak. Joel Walter doesn’t write happy tunes. The voice doesn’t lend itself well to happy stories. When one of the choruses goes “So far out of reach” on ‘Like a Song’ you know you’re in for some sad stories. Radio interference playing in the background of that song merely adds to the mood, making the EP something of a sad story EP. However, what ultimately makes this an EP worth returning to is the determination of the characters he creates. Though disappointed they keep on trying. “Nowhere in Fiction” is a bit sad but the hope in Joel’s voice makes it all worth it.
‘Lost in the Desert’ is perhaps the most despondent of the bunch. From there things slowly build up, getting less and less discouraged. ‘Like a song’ even has a slowly rising organ which feels a bit reassuring. By the time you reach the finale “Fade Away” you come close to a resolution. On this closer you nearly hear Joel sounding the most hopeful. Then it’s over.
This is a mostly folk-orientated EP. It is a bit different from what I normally listen to, but it is well-done. Joel understands completely what he’s doing on this EP. He’s telling stories about beaten down individuals who go on, trying to survive. While it isn’t happy it is somewhat realistic. “Nowhere in Fiction” could have easily become maudlin but thankfully Joel has enough good taste to avoid this common fate. Get it here.
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